SADDLERS’ plan to boost the crowd for the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy Southern Area quarter-final tie against Luton Town with a free ticket offer have been painted out by season ticket holders.

The club was offering a free trophy ticket to anyone who bought a ticket for the Swindon and Northampton games at the same time in a sort of footballing buy two get one free offer.

The view of the club was that when times are hard it would give supporters a chance to see all three home games which fall over eight days from Swindon’s visit on Tuesday, October 28.

The club have indicated that this was an attempt to boost the crowd for the increasingly important trophy matches, with each victory a step nearer Wembley.

They also felt that season ticket holders with three free league games, a free cup game and various other offers, discounts and incentives in their packages, would have supported a plan to boost the gate and create a cup-tie atmosphere.

But the club has reported that the scheme has produced a flood of complaints and e-mails from season ticket holders complaining that it is not fair on them to give away free tickets.

Reluctantly the club has now withdrawn the buy two get one free offer although under any 16s going to the match with an paying adult will still get free admission.